Clean Clothes for Sensitive Souls

The list of ingredients in common washing powders can read like a recipe of synthetic chemicals.

It's easy to see how some products can trigger allergic reactions in both adults and children and cause harm to the environment as well.

Heavy-duty, synthetically enhanced laundry products can seem appealing, however, many use tricks like optical brighteners simply to make clothes look cleaner. Laundry products that eschew these nasty chemicals for more natural ingredients are better for you and for the planet.

Allergies and Sensitive Skin

According to the National Asthma Council Australia (NACA) optical brighteners, fragrances and enzymes can cause skin irritation in some people. They can also aggravate hay fever symptoms. Phosphorus-based ingredients (which are still used in some laundry powders) can feed blue-green algae when released into our waterways. It's for these reasons that it's important to look at the ingredients of washing powders and liquids before making the decision to purchase one of them.

Newborns and Toddlers

Newborn skin is delicate and so is a baby's immune system. By using laundry detergents that are fragrance and dye free, you are helping to protect your baby from skin irritation, dryness, chafing and rashes.

What to Buy

To avoid the sneezes, look for laundry products free from optical brighteners, fragrances, dyes and enzymes. Options in the supermarket are available; you just have to know where to look.

Planet Ark endorses the Aware Sensitive range as they contain no unnecessary additives, are palm oil free and are powerfully performing products. In fact, the entire Aware Sensitive range is approved by the National Asthma Council Australia's Sensitive Choice® program.

More Information

The Planet Ark Endorsed range of cleaning products helps keep your family and the planet healthy.

Author: Claire Bell

Claire has been working at Planet Ark since 2011, after working in the communications industry and raising a young family. She is passionate about her children and helping the environment. Claire is super-organised and excellent multitasker, which helps in her joint roles as Office Manager and Campaign Coordinator.